Mounting socket for elongated incandescent lamps



A ril 21, 1936. J A COY v Q 2,038,270

MOUNTING SOCKET FORELONGATED INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 29, 1954 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED S A S PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING. socKEr Foa ELONGATED INCANDESCENT LAMPS Joseph A. Coy, Norwood, Ohio, assignor to The Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a corporation ofKentucky Application June 29, 1934, Serial No. 733,064

1 5Claims. (Cl.'173--332) 1 The -present invention relates to a mounting and energizing socket means for elongated incandescent filamentelectric lamps wherein the filament extends between terminal caps at opposite I endsf the lamp body-and has for an object the provision of means whereby such lamps may "be "simultaneously removably supported and energized. 1

Iotherobject is toprovide a compact double socketfor use in mounting and electrically connecting a multiplicity of such elongated lamps in .end to end relation.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction whereby good electrical contact is attained and secure, quickly removable mounting of the lamps is attained. "These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which: s

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an elongated lighting unit having three elongated'incandescent illuminating lamps therein, part being broken away.

' Figure 2' is a View taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1. i "Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figl re iFigure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Figlurel. v n "Figure 5 is'a side elevational view of a double socketmember of the invention.

1 Figurefiis a view taken on lineG-B ofFigure 5.

1" Figure? is a wiring diagram. 7

a Amongst recent developments in elongated tubular incandescent filament lampsis an incan- 'descent lamp of the substantially straight'line filament and cylindrical enclosing body that 'has been prepared for various uses such as dec- ..orative illumination, illuminated reflector units, 40

and 'the' like; said novel lamp differing essentially from the heretofore used incandescent filament lamps in that the connector terminals for the'filam ent are very thin and are disposed one 'lziteachof the opposite'endsof the lamp. The specific details of such lamps form no part of the present invention,'it being the primary ob- "je'ct of this invention to provide means whereby *these lamps may be connected singly, and in ""numerical series, with a minimum of intervening mounting and electrical connecting means.

"The elongated lamps I comprise a glass tube II sealed at its opposite ends by metallic con- "ductor caps I2 and I3, said caps being identical or *diissimilarfbut under preferred construction 6.

afiording'but slight projection beyondthe ends of the transparent body I I. Insofar as is known, no convenient means has been provided for electrically connecting opposite sides of supply lines to the opposite ends of the lamp and at the same time providing a secure mounting for said ends.

The device of the invention is herein illustrated as conveniently applied to a reflector casing, but it will be readily understood that the invention, modified only as to the exterior shape and mounting adaptability of the support, may be applied to various types of installation.

In Figure 1 the ordinary lighting trough casing I4 has an open-bottom with integral lugs I5 and lugs I6 slightly overhanging the open bottom. A reflector I! of suitable design is removably secured in the casing by screws I8 passing through a reflector and into arms I9 disposed interiorly of the casing and providing the spacing for the electric conductors 2I from which the lamps are energized. At one end, the casing I4 has a switch 22 of suitable design, mounted interiorly thereof and from which switch one conductor 23 is connected to a fixed mounting and the connector member of the invention shown in crosssection in Figure 4. This comprises an insulating member which consists of a base 24 resting upon one pair of lugs I6 and a wall 25 extending at right angles thereto, the wall 25 being of a shape approximating the cross section of the open interior of the trough so as to be easily received therein andslidably positioned beneath the lugs I6. Wall 25 has a circular recess 26 therein of a diameter to somewhat snugly receive the terminal cap I3 of a tubular incandescent lamp. A disc shaped connector terminal 27 is rigidly secured within the depression 26, the disc 21 being suitably dished so that the head 28 of'connector screw 29 may seat in countersunk relation therein. The usual nut and washer arrangement 30 serves to electrically connect the bare end of the conductor 23 to the terminal disc 21.

At the opposite end of the casing I4 and slidably received beneath the lugs I6 is a spring urged connector terminal which comprises a body '3I that seats directly on lug I6, and a wall 32, corresponding generally to the wall 25 of Fig- 36 is interposed between the bottom wallof recess 33 and the ,back of the disc and yieldably,

urges the disc outwardly of the depression. At the opposite end of stud 34 is a suitable terminal connector nut for attaching the bare end of electric supply conductor 39.

When a single elongated tubular lamp i0 is used, the members 24 and 3| are mounted in spaced relation at a distance slightly less than the distance between end caps l2 and I3 of the lamp. With the contacts electrically connected to opposite sides of the light the tube may be mounted and electrically connected between them by merely placing one end of the tube against the yieldably mounted socket terminal and pressing inwardly thereon until the opposite end of the tube is brought into alignment with the disc 31. Upon releasing the tube the spring pressure of the yieldable member firmly mounts the lamp in position. It will be understood that any suitable means may be utilized for mounting the fixed and yieldable mounting sockets and that the shape of the insulating portions thereof may be varied to accommodate specified environments.

When a plurality of the tubular lamps are to be arranged in substantially end to end alignment, the devices detailed in Figures 5 and 6, and shown in operative relation in Figure I, afford a very compact and efii'cient mounting and connecting means. The insulating member 40 of suitable shape, for example, as shown in Figure 5, has a circular opening 4| extending entirely therethrough and of a diameter to freely receive the diameter of the end caps I2 and I3 of the tubular members. The insulating member 40 has a rectangular passage 42 extending radially of the bore 4| and communicating therewith. A double yieldable connector member comprising a pair of contact plates 43 yieldable relative to one another and preferably formed integrally with a U-shaped stem 44 that seats in the passage 42, is secured in position by inserting a threadedly perforate arm 45 of a connector terminal 46 beneath the projecting end of the U-shaped stem and securing the two together with a screw as at 41. The slightly rounded edges 48 of the plates 43 abut the inside periphery of bore 4I' so that the plates are yieldable relative to one another but are securely attached to the insulating member 40. The insulating member 40 is counter-bored as at 49 to permit conductor connector screw 50 to be brought down tightly upon a supply conductor whereby both plates 43 are electrically connected with a single wire.

Referring to the disclosure in Figure '7, yieldable contact plate 35 is shown in electrical contact with end cap l2 of ,a tubular incandescent lamp, the filament 5| of which is connected at opposite ends to said caps. The intermediate incandescent lamp I0 is shown mounted with its terminal caps l2 and I3 seated against the yieldably mounted connector plates 43. The nonyielding socket connector 21 is shown at the extreme right. The switch controlled wires 53 and 54 are connected to alternate sockets so that the lamps II] are wired in parallel but are disposed in linear series. Wire 53 is connected to yieldable terminal plate 35 and to the next non-adjacent pair of yieldable plates 43. The wire 54 is connected to the non-yielding contact plate 21 and its non-adjacent pair of yieldable contact plates 43. The embodiment illustrated shows all forms of the yieldable contact socket and mounting member, but it will be understood that various arrangements of the mounting sockets may be made. For example, two devices such as illustrated in Figure 3 may be employed for a single lamp, or for a plurality of lamps, the devices such as shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be used exclusively, as well as in connection with either or both of the devices shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Under the various modifications of structure embodied within the scope and spirit of this invention, it will be found that the devices are readily made in simple and inexpensive form, and that the mounting and removal of the lamps and also the wiring of the terminal sockets, are speedier and simpler operations than the corresponding operations with the present day screw sockets and the double wired connections thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A double socket for lamps of the class described comprising a suitably mounted slab-like insulating support having a bore adapted to receive inits opposite open ends the adjacent ends of two lamps, a conductor terminal comprising an arm lying in abutment with the edge of said support, and yieldable electric contact means intermediate the ends of the bores for exerting yieldable endwise pressure on said lamps, said contact means comprising a looped stem portion embracing said terminal arm and secured thereto. a

2. A double socket for lamps of the class described comprising an insulating member having a bore therethrough, a U-shaped member having its free ends extending transversely into the bore and abutting the wall of the bore to provide yield- -ing contacts and a terminal member connected to the. U-shaped member and serving to preclude movement of the U -shaped member in a direction transversely of the bore.

3. A double socket for lamps of the, kind described comprising a relatively thin slab of insulating material having a bore therethrough in the direction of its thickness and an angular bore extending edgewise therethrough andcommunieating with the first mentioned bore, a U-shaped metallic member having'enlarged free ends and a restricted stem portion, said stem portion adapted to be inserted through the angular bore from within the first mentioned bore and to extend therebeyond, a terminal member comprising an arm adapted to lie in abutment with the edge of the insulating material and to extend through the'protruding U'-shaped portion of the stem and meansfa-stening the stem and arm together, the

relatively enlarged ends of the U-shaped member within the first mentioned bore adapted for edgewise contact on the wall of said first-men'- tioned bore and precluding further movement or the stem outwardly through the bore, said arm precluding withdrawal of the stem inwardly through the bore.

4. The combination with a pair of elongatedlncandescent filament lamps having thin transverse end terminals whereby the lamps, when energized, are luminous completely from end to end, of a socket for mounting and energizing adjacent ends of a pair of said lamps comprising a thin body of insulating material having a bore therethrough substantially receiving the thin end terminals of adjacent lamps in opposite ends thereof, said insulated body having a second bore extending from an edge thereof and communicating with the first mentioned bore, a U- shaped integral double contact member having its end developed into relatively wide and yieldmember mutually secure ably spaced plates and further having its connected end forming a relative U-shaped stem insertable through the edgewise bore from within the lamp receiving bore whereby the plate portions may abut edgewise upon the wall of the last mentioned bore, said narrow U-shaped stem forming a protruding loop at the edge of the body and a conductor terminal member insertable in sliding abutment with said edge of said insulating body and through said protruding loop whereby the terminal and the U shaped double contact themselves upon the insulating body and permitting the plate portions under the pressure of opposed inserted lamps, to move into substantial abutment.

5. In a socket, the combination of a relatively thin insulating body having a lamp receiving bore therethrough, a contact strip extending transversely into the bore intermediate the ends thereof, a restricted stem on the contact strip extending through the body from said bore to the edge of the body, a connector terminal abutting the edge of the body and interengaging with the edge of the stem and means to rigidly secure the stem and terminal together whereby said parts mutually retain one another in position relative to the insulating body.

JOSEPH A. COY. 

